Europe's Hilde Hardeman Is New KP Chair

RAPAPORT... Hilde Hardeman will be the chair of the Kimberley Process for2018, the European Commission (EC) has confirmed.Hardeman is head of the EC's Service for Foreign PolicyInstruments (FPI), which manages aspects of the European Union's diplomacy. She will take charge of the KP on behalf of the EU, thisyear's chair, an FPI spokesperson said in an email to RapaportNews Friday. Earlier this month, the EU said it had commenced its role asKP chair under the leadership of FedericaMogherini, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. However, while FPI falls under the authority of Mogherini, the EU'smost senior diplomat, Hardeman will serve as chair, the spokesperson notedFriday. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme has been in forcesince 2003, working to keep conflict diamonds out of the industry's globalsupply chain. The chairmanship of the KP switches every year, with Australiarecently ending its 2017 leadership period. India is the vice chair this year,and will become chair in 2019.